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Cape's Dam Public Survey

The City of San Marcos, in collaboration with personnel from Hays County, is developing potential design concepts for the Cape’s Dam area for a future presentation to the San Marcos City Council. The design concepts may include rehabilitating the existing structure, modifying it, or removing it. In addition, consideration will be given to adjustments to access and site safety to the dam and the surrounding area.

We welcome your feedback, so please respond to the following questions based on your experiences and appreciation for the area. An open house will be held April 22, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the San Marcos Activity Center, and the survey will remain open until May 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST
Section A — Experience and Use
1.Since 2015 when access to the dam was limited, how often do you or your household visit publicly accessible places near Cape’s Dam and adjacent parkland sites (for example, Stokes Park or Olympic Outdoor)?(Required.)
2.How often would you visit Cape’s Dam and adjacent parkland if it were open to the public?(Required.)
3.Which options best describe your strongest connection to Cape’s Dam and the surrounding area? (Select up to two)(Required.)
Section B — Values and Priorities
4.Allocate no more than 100 points across the four priorities to show how you would distribute attention and resources. (Your total should add up to 100)(Required.)
5.If you had to pick one top priority for evaluating design concepts, which would it be? (Select one)(Required.)
Section C — Safety and Site Management
6.Which safety and management measures should be required in any design concept? (Select up to 5)(Required.)
Section D — Design Concept Direction
7.How supportive are you of each concept direction? (Use a 1–5 scale: 1 = strongly oppose, 5 = strongly support) Answer based on the information you have today.(Required.)
Rehabilitate/repair the Dam and Mill Race
Modify the Dam and Mill Race
Complete removal of the dam and restoration of the water system to a more natural condition
Section E — Project Cost and Funding
8.Which approach best aligns with your preferences for project costs and duration? (Select one)(Required.)
9.If additional City taxes/fees were required for this project, what is the maximum additional amount you would be willing to pay per household per year to achieve the desired outcome you support? (Select one)(Required.)
10.Which funding approaches would you consider acceptable for the project? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
Section F — Information Need
11.What information would you consider the most when making your decision on the future of Cape’s Dam? (Select up to 3)(Required.)
Section G — About You
12.Which of the following best describes you? (Select one)(Required.)
13.What is your age? (Select one)(Required.)
Section H — Comments
14.Any other comments you would like City Council to consider? (200 character limit)